Reclining chairs provided with foot rest or ottoman, and hardware therefor



Mal-2h 29, 1966 3,243,225

A. J. KATZ REGLINING CHAIRS PROVIDED WITH FOOT REST OR 'OTTOMAN, AND HARDWARE THEREFOR 7 Filed Aug. 19, 1964' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 is: .i INVENTOR.

March 29, 1966 A. J. KATZ RECLINING CHAIRS PROVIDED WITH FOOT REST OR OTTOMAN, AND HARDWARE THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1964 INVEN TOR. Alf) J. I64 72 ATTOZVEX March 29, 1966 A. J. KATZ 3,243,225

RECLINING CHAIRS PROVIDED WITH FOOT REST 0R OTTOMAN, AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 19, 1964 S Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.4

INVEN TOR. ALEX 4/. K472 Q By C United States Patent Ofitiee 3,243,225 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 This invention relates to reclining chairs provided with foot rest or ottoman and hardware therefor. It is particularly directed to high legged chairs and chairs wherein the foot rest has a foot rest extension which folds under the foot rest.

An object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described in which the leg rest or ottoman support maintains its angular relationship to the seat when moving from an intermediate TV position to fully reclined position.

In reclining chairs with foot rest or ottoman as heretof-ore constructed, difliculty existed because of drifting ottoman. When the hardware, in such prior chairs became loose, the chair operated easily, and often star-ted opening without an occupant in the chair.

It is hence another object of this invention to provide hardware for a reclining chair, which while it opens easily when an occupant is in the chair, will nevertheless not open by itself when there is no occupant in the chair.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a chair of the character described in which the wood-work, such as cross rails, is not expensive, one flat cros-s board (substantially horizontal cross-rail) supporting all the hardware.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a chair of the character described, manually adjustable means to make it possible to retard the reclining movement of the chair at points intermediate the TV and fully reclined positions so that it will stop in balance, and Without the tendency to shift to either TV or fully reclined positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong, durable and comfortable chair and hardware therefor, of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and yet practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

e inveniton accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a top edge view of hardware embodying the invention, for one side of a reclining chair, with said hardware in retracted position when the chair in which the hardware is incorporated, is in sitting or upright position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational vertical cross-sectional view of a chair in upright or sitting position, with the hardware of FIG. 1 incorporated thereinto;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the chair and hardware in TV or intermediate reclining position; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the chair and hardware in fully reclining position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, designates a chair embodying the invention. The chair 10 comprises a fixed frame support 11 having side arms 12, front legs '13, rear legs 14 and a substantially horizontal, flat,

wood cross-rail 15 interconnecting the side arms and extending from near the rear of the support forwardly to substantially the middle of the support.

Fixed to the top side of the cross-rail 15, at each side of the chair, is a metal member 16 comprising a flat horizontal wall 17 extending from the rear of cross-rail 15, forwardly, and having an inwardly extending flat horizontal extension 18 at its forward end. Extending upwardly from the inner side of wall 17 is a vertical flange 19 terminating short of extension 18. Flange 19 has a central upwardly extending tab 20, and is formed, at said tab and therebelow, with a vertical slot 21. Member 16 may be attached to cross-rail 15 by means of rivets, screws or other fasteners 25.

It will be understood that the hardware is similar but symmetrically disposed on both sides of the chair. Hence, the hardware on one side only will be described.

Pivoted to the rear end of flange 19, as by rivet 26 is a member 30. A washer or shim 31 on rivet 26 is interposed between flange 19 and member 30. Member 30 is parallel to flange 19 in the upright position of FIGS. 1 and 2 and in the TV position of FIG. 3, but extends beyond the forward end of flange 19 and forwardly beyond plate portion 17. A bolt 32 passes through an opening in rnernber 30, and through slot 2 1. Said bolt has a head 32a contacting the innner surface of member 3% and a screw shank to which a wing nut 32b is screwed. Nylon or other friction washers or shims 32c, 32d on the shank of the bolt, are located on opposite sides of flange 19. Washer 32c is interposed between flange 19 and member Stl. A coil tension spring 322 on the shank is interposed between the wing nut 32b and washer 32d.

Fixed to the forward end of flange 19, as by rivets 34, is a stop plate 35 extending upwardly from said flange, and having an inner upwardly and rearward ly curved under edge 35a, and an end edge 35b.

An abutment disc 30a fixed to the forward end of ember 30 contacts the upper side of plate extension 18 to limit downward movement of said member.

Pivoted to the inner side of member 30, as on pivot 36, is a link 37 inclined forwardly and upwardly, in the upright position of the chair, up above stop plate 35. A horizontal pin 38 fixed to link '37, is disposed beneath arced or curved edge 35a. The axis of said curved edge 35a is at the axis of pivot 36, so that pin 38 moves in an are following the arc of said edge. Thus while pin 38 is under edge 35a, member 30 is locked against upward swinging movement.

Pivoted to the upper end of link 37, as at 40, is the rear end of a seat bar 41 to which an upholstered seat 42 may be attached. A backrest 43 for the chair may be fixed to the rear end of seat '42.

Seat bar 41 is slightly inclined forwardly and upwardly in the sitting or upright position of the chair, as shown in FIG. 2.

Pivoted to the forward end of the member 30, as at 45, is a bell crank 46. Said bell crank 46, in the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2, has an upwardly and forwardly inclined relatively long arm 46a, pivoted, as at 4612 to the seat bar 41. A fixed pin 47 on the seat bar 41 contacts an upward extension 460 on arm 46a to limit counterclockwise rotation of said arm relative to said seat bar.

Said bell crank 46 is furthermore provided with a relatively shorter arm 46d which extends rearwardly and somewhat upwardly, in said upright position of FIG. 2.

Pivoted to the rear end of arm 46d, as at 48, is a pusher link or bar 49, which projects forwardly and is somewhat inclined upwardly in the FIG. 2 position. Pivot 48 is located slightly above pivot 45. A pull forward on the lower end of link 52, causing a pull forward on pusher link 49, will not rotate bell crank 46, since extension 460 contacts fixed pin 47.

A four bar lazy tong linkage actuated by said pusher bar 49 serves to project an ottoman or leg rest angle member 51 in the manner hereinafter explained. Said linkage 50 comprises links 52, 57, 6S and 68. Link 52 is pivoted to seat 'bar 41 at 53 forwardly of pivot 4612.

Link 52 is dog-leg shaped. It has a portion 52a inclined downwardly and rearwardly from pivot 53 in the FIG. 2 position.

Extending from arm 52a is an intermediate portion 52b extending almost horizontally rearwardly, and from which extends a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 526. The pusher bar 49 is pivoted to link 52 as by pivot 55 at the junction of portions 52a, 52b of said link, closer to the upper, than to the lower end of said link.

The lower rear end of link 52 is pivoted, as at 56, to the rear end of link 57. Link 57 is nearly horizontal in the position of FIG. 2, and its forward end is pivoted, as at 59, to the lower rear corner of vertical flange 51a of ottoman or foot rest angle member 51.

Link 65, also of dog leg shape, is pivoted at its upper, forward end to the forward end of seat bar 41, as at 66, forwardly of pivot 53. Said link has a portion 651: which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly from pivot 66, in the FIG. 2 position. Extending from portion 65a, is

a portion 65b which is inclined sharply downwardly from the rear end of portion 65a, and from which extends a portion 650 inclined downwardly and rearwardly, in the FIG. 2 position. The lower rear end of link 65 is pivoted, as at 67, to an intermediate portion of link 57.

Link 68 is pivoted at its lower rear end, as at 69, to an intermediate point of portion 650 of link 65. Said link 68 is inclined forwardly and upwardly and is pivoted as at 70, to an upper part of said flange 51a. of ottoman or leg rest angle 51. A pin 65d on link 65 contacts a notch 68b formed in link 68 in the retracted condition of the lazy tong linkage 50.

It will now be observed that linkage 50 comprises the four bars or links 52, 57, 65 and 68 for quickly projecting the angle bar 51. It will be noted that said linkage 50 and ottoman angle bar 51 are located above the underside of the cross-rail 15, in the sitting or upright position of the chair, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The fact that the pusher link 49 is pivoted to the link 52 near pivot 53 makes for quick projection of the leg rest.

A foot rest or ottoman extension angle has a vertical flange 81 pivoted as at 82 to flange 51a, between pivots 59, 70. Link 68 has an extension 68a projecting forwardly and downwardly from pivot 70, in the upright position of the chair, and the forward end of said extension is pivoted, as at 83, to a short link 44 pivoted as at 85 to flange 81 above pivot 82, looking at FIG. 2. Said extension 80 projects rearwardly from the pivots 82, 85 in the upright position of the chair, and is located above the underside of cross-rail 15.

Ottoman angle 51 has a flange 51b to which a leg rest or ottoman is attached. Ottoman extension angle 80 has a flange 81a at right angles to flange 81 and attached thereto is an ottoman or leg rest extension 91. Ottoman 90 is in vertical position at the front of the seat bar in the upright position of the chair. In such position of the chair, ottoman extension 91 is horizontal, and rearward of the lower end of said ottoman.

Thus all of the hardware, seat, back rest and leg rest are supported on cross-rail 15 and do not project therebelow.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated the TV or intermediate reclining position of the chair. To move the parts from upright to TV position, the seat 42 is pushed rearwardly and link 37 swings in a clockwise position. Member 30 is locked against movement, but bell crank 46 is swung by the seat bar 41 sharply in a clockwise direction causing pusher link or bar 49 to actuate the four bar linkage 50 (comprising links 52, 57, 65, 68) to project the ottoman 90 to the position of FIG. 3. At the same time, ottoman extension 91 is swung forwardly and upwardly to the position of FIG. 3, parallel and forwardly of ottoman 90.

When link 3-7 has swung back sufiiciently to carry stop pin 38 rearwardly beyond the arcuate edge, the leg rest may be swung from TV to fully reclined position of FIG. 4.

It will 'be noted that the pusher link or bar 49 is pivoted to the bell crank or lever 52. This construction will cause easy projection of the leg rest, yet will not permit drift or opening of the leg rest when no occupant is in the chair.

The wing nut 32b, and spring 32c on the bolt passing through slot 21 of bracket 16, together with the nylon washers, permit increase or decrease of friction which makes it possible to brake the movement of the chair at points intermediate TV and fully reclined position and maintain the seat and back rest in balance in such stopped positions.

During movement from TV to fully reclined position bar 30 can swing upwardly. Sin'ce link 37 is pivoted to pivoted bar 30 and not to a fixed support, and since link 52 is pivoted to the seat and not to the bell crank 46, the leg rest actuating linkage 50 and the leg rest maintains its relationship to the seat, when going from TV to fully reclined position.

The present construction is particularly applicable to high leg chairs since all the hardware is above a predetermined high. level, permitting the chair to be designed to look light, not bulky and to look more like a living room chair that does not have the reclining feature.

When going from fully reclined to upright position, the chair must go through TV position because pin 38 does not go above edge 35b of the stop plate. Pivoted member 30 must go down to its bottom position before link 37 can swing forwardly.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a chair having a support, the combination comprising a bracket fixed to the support, a stop plate fixed to said bracket, a member pivoted at one end thereof to said bracket, means to limit the motion of said pivoted member between a lowered position and a raised position, a link pivoted at one end thereof to said pivoted member mediately the ends of said pivoted member, means to limit the motion of said link between a forward position and a rearward position, a bell crank pivoted mediately the ends thereof to the other end of said pivoted member, a seat bar mounted on the other end of said link and one end of said bell crank, first preventing means on said link and stop plate to prevent motion of said pivoted member from said lowered position toward said raised position until said link is substantially in said rearward position, second preventing means on said link and stop plate to prevent motion of said link from said rearward position toward said forward position until said pivoted member is substantially in said lowered position, a foot rest, and means controlled by said seat bar, pivoted member and bell crank to project and retract said foot rest, said stop plate having an arcuate under edge, an extending pin fixed to said link intermediate the ends of said link and engageable with said under edge, said first preventing means comprising said extending pin and said arcuate under edge.

2. The combination of claim .1, said stop plate having an end edge, said pin being engageable with said end edge,

5 6 said second preventing means comprising said extending 3,104,128 9/1963 Schliephaeke 29785 pin and said end edge. 3,128,122 4/1964 Mizelle 29775 X 3,162,481 12/1964 Gaylor 297316 X References Cited by the Examiner 3,163,464 12/ 1964 Martin et a1. 2.9785 5 3,166,352 1/1965 Re 297-88 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,172,697 3/1965 Fletcher 29785 3,043,621 7/1962 Fletcher 29785 3,044,827 7/1962 Belisle 29789 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 3,059,968 10/ 196-2 Schliephacke 29732 1 X J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CHAIR HAVING A SUPPORT, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A BRACKET FIXED TO THE SUPPORT, A STOP PLATE FIXED TO SAID BRACKET, A MEMBER PIVOTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID BRACKET, MEANS TO LIMIT THE MOTION OF SAID PIVOTED MEMBER BETWEEN A LOWERED POSITION AND A RAISED POSITION, A LINK PIVOTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID POVITED MEMBER MEDIATELY THE ENDS OF SAID PIVOTED MEMBER, MEANS TO LIMIT THE MOTION OF SAID LINK BETWEEN A FORWARD POSITION AND A REARWARD POSITION, A BELL CRANK MEDIATELY THE ENDS THEREOF TO THE OTHER END OF SAID PIVOTED MEMBER, A SEAT BAR MOUNTED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID LINK AND ONE END OF SAID BELL CRANK, FIRST PREVENTING MEANS ON SAID LINK AND STOP PLATE TO PREVENT MOTION OF SAID PIVOTED MEMBER FROM SAID LOWERED POSITION TOWARD SAID RAISED POSITION UNTIL SAID LINK IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID REARWARD POSITION, SECOND PREVENTING MEANS ON SAID LINK AND STOP PLATE TO PREVENT MOTION OF SAID LINK FROM SAID REARWARD POSITION TOWARD SAID FORWARD POSITION UNTIL SAID PIVOTED MEMBER IS SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID LOWERED POSITION, A FOOT REST, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID SEAT, BAR, PIVOTED MEMBER AND CELL CRANK TO PROJECT AND RETRACT SAID FOOT REST, SAID STOP PLATE HAVING AN ARCUATE UNDER EDGE, AN EXTENDING PIN FIXED TO SAID LINK INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID LINK AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID UNDER EDGE, SAID FIRST PREVENTING MEANS COMPRISNG SAID EXTENDING PIN AND SAID ARCUATE UNDER EDGE. 